Latch.



H. MEYERS.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1:), 1915.

7L f m m T6 my ATTORNEY HUGH ME, 01' GBUNDY CENTER, IOWA.

LATCH.

Specification of Ltters Patent.

' rammed June 12, 1917.

Application filed November 10, 1916. Serial No. 130,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hncn Mums, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grundy Center, in the county of Grundy and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Latches, of which the following is .a' specification.

This invention relates to a latch and more particularly to a latch which may be advantageously used upon the doors of automobiles and other vehicles for holding the same in closed position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a latch of this character which when applied to the doorof a vehicle will. automatically operate to secure the door when the same is closed and is easily operated to release the door when it is +1 m? to open the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch of this character having a latch bolt normally held in active position and curved throughout its length to form arcuate bearing faces for contact with-latch bolt supporting rollers, between which said latch bolt is arranged to be guided thereby, when moved therebetween either under the influence of a latch bolt actuating rod, or a spring connected with the bolt for normally holding the same in active position.

A still further object 'of the invention to provide the latch with. a rod for moving the curved latch bar between the supporting rollers which has mounted thereon a sleeve through the adjustment of which on the rod the extent to which the head on the latch .bolt extends beyond the latch casing may be \regulated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, has been illustrated in, the accompanying drawing, although no restriction is necessarily made to the precise details of construction therein shown, as changes, alterations, and modifications, within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional view through a latch constructed in accordance withthe invention and showing the same applied to a vehicle door and holding the door in closed position. v

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the latch bolt moved to retracted position to permit opening of the door.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the 'severalviews in the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail,

, the letter A designates a portion of a vehicle door having a mortise therein in which" is arranged the improved latch B engag'eable elongated and longitudinally o 9 in which is received the lo-.7, g

'head' 10 on a latch bolt 11 arranged a thin the basing 3 and curved throughout its length to form arcuate faces 12 contacting with channeled latch bolt supporting rollers 13 mounted to turn in-the side walls =1 of the casing 3 and arranged upon opiosite sides of the latch bolt 11;

The latch bolt 11 has formed thereon an ear 1d with which is connected an end of a coiled expansion spring 15, the other end of which is engaged with an eat 16 struck from the top wall 7 of the casing 3, said spring normally serving to hold the locking head 10 on the latch bolt 11 extended beyond the end 5 of the casing 3, so that' when the door of the vehicle is swung to a closed position, the beveled face on the locking head 10 in its passage over the keeper C will cause the latch bolt to move inwardly and down wardly within the casing 3 against the influence of the spring 15 until the latch bolt is in a position to permit the spring 15 to again extend the locking head within the opening in the keeper C.

The lower end of the latch bolt 11 has ex-- 'the rod prevents lateral movement of the lower end of the latch bolt 11 betweenthe side walls 4 of the casing 3 yet allows the latch bar to be moved downwardly and inwardly within the casing when operated by the actuating rod or the keeper C.

1 Theactuating rod 20 is threaded for a portion of its length, as at 23, to receive a threaded sleeve 24; and through its threaded connection with the rod may be adjusted longitudinally thereon with relation to the ear 21 and top wall 7 ofthe casing 3 to limit the sliding movement of the latchbolt 11 between the rollers 13 thus regulating the distance which the locking head 10 on the latch bolt may extend beyond the end wall 5 of'the latch casing.

When the improved latch has been applied to a vehicle door as shown in Fig. '1 in the drawing and it is desired to release the door to permit opening of the same, pressure is applied to the operating head 22 on the latch bolt actuating rod to cause the same to move the latch bolt inwardly and downwardly within the casing 3 between the combined supporting and guide rollers 13 thus retracting the locking head from within the opening in the keeper C.

'When the door is again closed and the locking head on the'latch bolt brought into contact with the keeper C, the latch bolt will be first moved inwardly and downwardly within the casing and then upwardly and outwardly as heretoforedescribed thus securing the door in closed position.

From the foregoing arrangement of the latch bolt actuating rod with relation to the latch bolt and spring 15, it will be seen that ers therein, a curved latch bolt mounted to slide between said rollers and supported thereby, means for normally holding said latch bolt in active position, latch bolt retracting means, and a channeled foot on said latch bolt engaged by sald retracting means.

2. In a latch, a casing, spaced guide rollers therein, a latch bolt having a curved portion mounted to slide between said rollers and contacting therewith, a foot on said latch bolt having a channel therein, means for normally holding said latch bolt in active position, and a latch bolt actuating rod having a bearing ball thereon received in said channel. a

3. In a latch, a casing, spaced guide rollers therein, a latch bolt having a curved portion mounted to slide between said rollers and contacting therewith, a foot on said latch bolt having a longitudinally extending channel therein, a latch bolt extending rod having a bearing ball at one end thereof received in said channel, and means for holdin said-foot in engagement with said ball.

4.1n a latch, a casing, spaced rollers therein, a latch bolt having a curved portion mounted to slide between said rollers and contacting therewith, a foot on one end of said latch bolt having a longitudinally ex tending channel therein, means for normally holding said latch bolt in active position, a latch bolt actuating rod mounted to slide in said casing and'engaging said foot, and a sleeve adjustably mounted on said rod.

In testimony whereof I aiiixv my signature.

HUGH MEYERS. 

